Which statement best captures popular sovereignty?

• A. The government's authority comes from force and coercion
• B. The government's authority comes from the consent of the governed, typically expressed through elections.
• C. The federal government is sovereign over the states
• D. Citizens have no say in government

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is that political power comes from the people who consent to be governed. In a democracy, government authority rests on the consent of the governed, and elections are the primary way people express that consent and hold leaders accountable. Saying that the government’s authority comes from the consent of the governed, typically expressed through elections, best captures this. It shows that the people are the source of legitimacy for the government and can influence who holds power and what policies are pursued.

This isn’t about power arising from force or coercion, which would describe tyranny rather than consent. It also isn’t about one level of government being sovereign over another; in a system with shared sovereignty, ultimate authority still rests with the people who authorize the government through their participation. And it certainly isn’t about citizens having no say, which would deny the fundamental idea of popular sovereignty.